Return mechanism for easy opening pull tab

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to an end unit for a container which includes a score line defining a tear panel within an end panel adapted for at least partial removal from the end panel, a pull tab joined to the tear panel, and means for biasing the pull tab in a direction toward the tear panel whereby after a rupturing of the score line during which the pull tab is drawn partially away from the tear panel the biasing means returns the pull tab toward the tear panel thereby eliminating the pull tab from hindering the disposal of the product of the container either by drinking directly therefrom or during a pouring operation. The biasing means in keeping with the present invention is preferably one or more springs which either apply a force against a nose of the pull tab or a force against a handle of the pull tab, and in either construction the force is so applied as to bring the pull tab and the tear panel toward their initial positions prior to an opening operation.

United States Patent 1 21 Khoury Aug. 5, 1975 RETURN MECHANISM FOR EASY OPENING PULL TAB [75] Inventor: Nick S. Khoury, Worth, lll.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: June 20, 1974 21 Appl. No.2 481,361

[52] [1.8. Cl. 220/269 [51] Int. Cl. 865d 41/32 [58] Field of Search 220/269, 268

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,557,999 1/1971 Chagoyen 220/269 3,653,535 4/1972 Brown 220/269 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Diller, Brown, Ramik & Wight 5 7 ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to an end unit for a container which includes a score line defining a tear panel within an end panel adapted for at least partial removal from the end panel. a pull tab joined to the tear panel, and means for biasing the pull tab in a direction toward the tear panel whereby after a rupturing of the score line during which the pull tab is drawn partially away from the tear panel the biasing means returns 17 Claims, l2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUG 5|975 3,898,227

saw 1 PATENTED AUG 5l975 3,898,227

SHEET 2 RETURN MECHANISM FOR EASY OPENING PULL TAB The present invention is primarily directed to socalled easy opening end units which generally include an end panel having a score line which defines a tear panel adapted to be partially or totally removed from the end panel. Generally the tear panel has secured thereto by a rivet or the like a handle or pull tab which initiates the rupture of the tear panel and by subsequent operation results in the total or partial removal of the tear panel from the end panel of the end unit. In prior easy opening end units, particularly of the partially opening type, no provision has been made for assuring that the pull tab is displaced at a convenient position for subsequent drinking or pouring of the product from the associated container. Generally speaking, when such end units are opened the pull tab is disposed rather awkwardly within the normal path or stream of travel of the product which is poured or would flow from the associated opening created by the removal of the tear panel from the end panel of the end unit. Such conventional constructions include numerous disadvantages, among which is the rather apparent disadvantage of the tear panel and pull tab being disposed in the area of the natural stream of flow of the product through the opening thus resulting in an erratic pouring and/or drinking operation. From the standpoint of safety it is also apparent that the handle should be disposed at a position at which it will not cause accidental damage to a user, and such can be achieved most readily if the handle is maintained essentially in the plane of the tear panel prior to and after an opening operation.

In view of the foregoing a primary object of this invention is to provide a novel end unit of the type heretofore described wherein a generally so-called easyopening end unit is provided with biasing means associated with a pull tab for biasing the latter in a direction toward the tear panel whereby after a rupturing of an associated score line during which the pull tab is drawn partially away from the tear panel the biasing means returns the pull tab toward and generally against the tear panel to maintain both in proximate relationship thereby permitting ease of pouring and/or drinking from a container with which the end unit is associated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel end unit of the type heretofore described wherein the biasing means is in the form of a spring or a pair of springs and includes one or more terminal ends in either underlying relationship to a nose of the pull tab or in overlying relationship to a handle thereof, and in either case the biasing force is such that the pull tab is urged in a direction toward the plane of the tear panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel end unit of the type heretofore described wherein the spring is anchored to the tear panel by a web of the pull tab disposed within an opening of a handle of the latter.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel end unit of the type heretofore described wherein a rivet is employed to anchor a generally U-shaped spring to the tear panel through the bight portion thereof, and terminal ends or feet of legs of the U- shaped spring are disposed beneath a nose of the pull tab.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel end unit of the type heretofore described wherein the handle includes an opening having a web therewithin of a generally T-shaped configuration as viewed in top plan, and the biasing means are a pair of springs joined to arms of the T-shaped portion and having terminal ends disposed beneath the nose of the pull tab.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel end unit of the type described wherein the biasing means is a generally U-shaped spring having a bight portion anchored to the tear panel by a web of the pull tab disposed within an opening of a handle thereof, and the U-shaped spring includes a pair of legs having ends disposed above and upon the gripping end of the pull tab.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a novel easy opening end unit constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a pull tab having a nose and a handle with a web therebetween, and biasing means in the form of a pair of springs whose ends underlie the nose for biasing the pull tab to a position generally parallel to the original plane of the tear panel.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which the biasing means is associated with the pull tab.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2, and illustrates the manner in which ends of the biasing means or springs are anchored in cross-arms of the generally T-shaped web.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2, and illustrates the manner in which the tear panel is initially ruptured by pivoting motion of the pull tab.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4, and illustrates the full opened position of the tear panel, and the manner in which the handle is returned to a plane generally parallel to the tear panel after having been disposed away therefrom during the opening operation of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of another easy opening end unit of this invention, and illustrates a generally U-shaped spring secured by a rivet to a tear panel for imparting a biasing force to a nose of a pull tab for returning the same to a position generally parallel to the original position of the end unit tear panel.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6, and illustrates more clearly the manner in which the spring is secured to the tear panel of the end unit.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of another end unit constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates the manner in which a generally U-shaped spring is anchored between a web of a pull tab and which has ends resting upon the handle for biasing the same toward a plane parallel to the tear panel.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 99 of FIG. 8, and more clearly illustrates details of the end unit of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 8 and illustrates the manner in which the spring is anchored to the tear panel by a web of thepull tab.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan 'view of another embodiment of this invention, and illustrates the manner in which a U-shaped spring is held anchored to an end panel in the absence of'an additional rivet of the type disclosed in FIGS. 8 through 10.

FIG. 12 is a final embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates the manner in whicha single leaf spring is anchored or held captive between a web of the pull tab and a tear panel-of theend unit for biasing the handle toward a position planar to that of the tear panel. 1

Reference is first made to FIGS. -1 through 4 of the drawings which illustrate a container C (FIG. 2) to which is secured by a double seam 11 an end unit constructed of metallic 'or similar material including an end panel 12 provided with a conventional generally U-shaped score line .13 defining a tear panel 14. The tear panel-14 is adapted to be inserted internally'of the container upon the rupture or fracture of the score line 13, in the manner best shown in- FIG. 5, as will be described more fully hereinafter. J

Associated .with the end unit 10 is a pull tab 15 which is generally of a circular configuration having a handle portion 16, a nose portion 17, and a web 18 within an opening 20 thereof. The web 18 in the present embodiment of the invention is of a generally T-shaped configuration as viewed in top plan (FIG. 1) and includes a pair of arms 21, 22 which are curled to captively engage biasing means 23, 24, respectively, (FIG. 3) in the form of a pair of springs having terminal ends (unnum bered) disposed beneath the nose 17 of the pull tab 15. A rivet 25 secures'the web 18 and thus the pull tab 15 and the associated springs 23, 24 to the tear panel 14 of the end unit 10.

An opening operation of the end unit 10 is achievedby grasping the handle portion16 and lifting the same upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1 toward the position shown in FIG. 4 which in the latter involves a counterclockwise pivoting motion bringing the nose 17 downwardly against the tear panel 14 in the area of the score line 13 resulting in the rupture thereof. During the opening motion imparted to the pull tab 15 the same moves out of the normal plane thereof which is generally parallel to that of the tear panel 14 and the end panel 12, in generally the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. During this pivoting motion the ends (unnumbered) of the springs 23, 24 underlying the nose 17 are bent downwardly, as shown in FIG. 4. Since the springs 23, 24 are constructed from reboundable material,

such as spring steel, after the tear panel 14 has been totally severed from the end panel 12 (FIG. 5) and the handle 15 is released the ends (unnumbered) of the springs 23, 24 act against the nose l7 tending to urge the same away from the tear panel which in effect urges the handle l5 toward the tear panel resulting in the pivoting of the handle 15to a plane once again generally parallel to the tear panel in the ruptured position thereof, in the manner best shownin FIG. 5. In this manner the handle is automatically returned by the springs 23, 24 to'essentially its initial position in a plane parallel to the'plane of the tear panel 14, even though the latter is at this point in its ruptured or opened position (FIG. 5). M

Another novel easyopening end unit constructed in accordance with this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings and once again includes an end unit secured by a double seam 31 to a container 32 (FIG. 7). The end unit 30 includes an end panel 33 pro vided with a generally U-shaped score line 34 defining a tear panel 35 to which is secured a pull tab 36 which includes an opening 37, a handle portion 38, a nose 40, and a web 41. The web 41 is joined by a rivet 42 to the tear panel 35. Biasing means in the form of a generally U-shaped spring 45 is provided for urging the pull tab generally to its initial plane parallel to the tear panel 35 after it has been once removed out of the planethereof during an opening operation, just as in, the case of the pull tab 15 of the end unit 10 of FIG. 1. The biasing means or spring 45 includes a bight portion 46 joined by a rivet 47 to the tear panel 35. The spring 45 further includes a pair of legs 48, 49 having terminal ends (unnumbered) underlying the nose 40, in the manner readily apparent from FIG. 6. Y

During anopening operation the pull tab 36 is grasped and lifted upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 6 resulting in apivoting motion generally across the web 41 between the rivet 42 and the nose resulting in the nose 40 being deflected downwardly resulting in the rupture of the score line 34 and the eventual opening of the end unit in much the same manner as that illustrated in FIG. 5 relative to the end unit 10. During such an opening operation the ends (unnumbered) of the legs 48, 49 of the spring are deflected downwardly and due to the inherent reboundable na ture thereof, after the handle 36 has been released, the

legs force the nose40 away from the tear panel and thus bring the" pull tab back gene-rally to the plane of the tear panel 35.

In keeping with a further embodiment of this invention another end unit 50 (FIG. 8) is united by a double seam 51 (FIG. 9) to a container 52. The end unit 50 includes an end panel 53 provided with a score line 54 defining a tear panel 55 which is partially removed from the end panel 53, much in the same manner as the tear panel 14 of the end unit 10 of FIGS. 1 through 5.

A pull tab, generally designated by the reference'numeral 56, includes an opening 57 defined by in part a handle 58 and a nose 60 which has projecting therefrom an integral web 61 anchored to the end panel 55 by a rivet 62. The web 61 includes a channel 63 (FIG. 10) which opens downwardly in a generally U-shaped configuration, as viewed in transverse cross-section (FIG. 10). A terminal end (unnumbered) of the web 61 is secured to the tear panel 55 by another rivet 64.The channel 63 of the web 61 encompasses or anchors a bight portion 66 of biasing means 70 in the form of a generally W or U-shaped spring which includes in addition to the bight portion 66 a pair of short legs 71, 72 which with radius portions 73, 74 merge respectively with legs 75, 76 having ends (unnumbered) resting atop a recessed portion 77 of the handle or gripping portion 58 of the pull tab 56 in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 9. Due to the natural reboundable spring characteristics of the spring 70 the ends (unnumbered) of the legs 75,76 urge the gripping portion 54 of the pull tab 56 downwardly toward and into a plane generally parallel to the plane of the end panel 53 and the tear panel 55. Thus, after a rupturing. operation resulting in the severance of the score line 54 and the inward deflection of the tear panel 55 in much the same manner as the tear panel 14, the biasing means 70 impart a biasing force to the handle portion 58 urging the pull tab 55 generally to a plane parallel to the tear panel 55, such that the same occupies 'the position parallel f, y a

thereto just as in the manner of the handle 15 and the tear panel 14 of FIG. 5.

Reference is now made to FIG. 11 of the drawings which illustrates another embodiment of this invention which is identical to that illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings. However, in lieu of the rivet 64, the web 61' is foreshortened and the biasing means 70 is held anchored against the tear panel 55' simply by the channel 63' and the rivet 62' holding the web 61' against the tear panel 55. Otherwise the operation of the end unit 50 of FIG. 11 is identical to that of the end unit 50 of FIG. 8.

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 12, another novel end unit constructed in accordance with this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 80 and includes an end panel 81 provided with a score line 82 which defines a tear panel 83 to which is secured a pull tab 84 by a rivet 85 joined to a web 86. The web 86 is an integral extension of the handle or pull tab 84 and includes a downwardly opening channel 87 which receives an end (unnumbered) of biasing means 88 in the form of a leaf spring having an opposite terminal end (unnumbered) resting upon a recessed portion 90 of a gripping portion or handle portion 91 of the pull tab 84.

The operation of the end unit 80 is much the same as that of the end unit 50, namely, the handle portion 91 is gripped and pulled upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 12, to rupture the score line 82 resulting in the eventual disposition of the tear panel 83 inwardly of an associated container, in the same manner as that illustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to the tear panel 14. Once the handle 91 is released the inherent springiness of the spring 88 operating through the terminal end bearing against the portion 90 biases the pull tab 84 back to the plane of the tear panel 83 resulting in these components being disposed in the relationship of those like components illustrated in FIG. 5.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. An end unit for a container comprising an end panel, a score line in said end panel defining a tear panel adapted for at least partial removal from said end panel, a pull tab adapted to apply a rupturing force to said tear panel, means joining said pull tab to said tear panel, and means for biasing said pull tab in a direction toward said tear panel whereby after a rupturing of said score line during which the pull tab is drawn partially away from the tear panel the biasing means returns the pull tab toward said tear panel.

2. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a spring.

3. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a pair of springs.

4. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pull tab includes a nose and a handle opposite thereto,

and said biasing means biases said nose in a direction away from said end panel.

5. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pull tab includes a nose and a handle opposite thereto, and said biasing means biases said handle in a direction toward said end panel.

6. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle includes an opening, a web within said opening, and means securing said biasing means to said web.

7. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle includes an opening, a web within said opening, means securing said biasing means to said web remote from said nose, and said biasing means being a pair of springs disposed on opposite sides of said web with terminal ends thereof located between said tear panel and nose. I

8. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle includes an opening, a web within said opening, and means securing said biasing means between said web and said tear panel.

9. The end unit as defined in claim I wherein said handle includes an opening, and said biasing means is disposed generally within said opening.

10. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pull tab includes a nose and a handle opposite thereto, means anchoring said biasing means at one end thereof to said tear panel, and an opposite end of said biasing means is in overlying relationship to said handle.

11. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pull tab includes a nose and a handle opposite thereto, means anchoring said biasing means at one end thereof to said tear panel, and an opposite end of said biasing means is in underlying relationship to said handle.

12. The end unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a spring.

13. The end unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a generally U-shaped spring, and said one end of said spring is a bight portion thereof.

14. The end unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a spring, said handle includes an opening, a web within said opening, and said one end of said spring is sandwiched between said web and said tear panel.

15. The end unit as defined in claim 10 including rivet means joining said biasing means to said tear panel.

16. The end unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said biasing means is a U-shaped spring, said anchoring means is a rivet joining a bight portion of said spring to said tear panel, and said opposite end of said biasing means are terminal ends of legs of said U-shaped spring.

17. The end unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said handle includes an opening, a web of said handle being within said opening, said web having a terminal end, said anchoring means anchoring said biasing means one end to said web terminal end, and said biasing means opposite end being a pair of terminal ends of said biasing means disposed beneath said nose. 

1. AND END UNIT FOR A CONTAINER COMPRISING AN END PANEL, A SCORE LINE IN SAID END PANEL DEFINING A TEAR PANEL ADAPTED FOR AT LEAST PARTIAL REMOVAL FROM SAID END PANEL, A PULL TAB ADAPTED TO APPLY A RUPTURING FORCE TO SAID TEAR PANEL, MEANS JOINING SAID PULL TAB TO SAID TEAR PANEL, AND MEANS FOR BLASTING SAID PUL TAB IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID TEAR PANEL WHEREBY AFTER A TAB IN DIRECTION TOWARD SAID TEAR PANEL WHEREBY AFTER A RUPTURING OF SAID SCORE LINE DURING WHICH THE PULL TAB IS DRAWN
 2. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a spring.
 3. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a pair of springs.
 4. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pull tab includes a nose and a handle opposite thereto, and said biasing means biases said nose in a direction away from said end panel.
 5. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pull tab includes a nose and a handle opposite thereto, and said biasing means biases said handle in a direction toward said end panel.
 6. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle includes an opening, a web within said opening, and means securing said biasing means to said web.
 7. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle includes an opening, a web within said opening, means securing said biasing means to said web remote from said nose, and said biasing means being a pair of springs disposed on opposite sides of said web with terminal ends thereof located between said tear panel and nose.
 8. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle includes an opening, a web within said opening, and means securing said biasing means between said web and said tear panel.
 9. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle includes an opening, and said biasing means is disposed generally within said opening.
 10. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pull tab includes a nose and a handle opposite thereto, means anchoring said biasing means at one end thereof to said tear panel, and an opposite end of said biasing means is in overlying relationship to said handle.
 11. The end unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pull tab includes a nose and a handle opposite thereto, means anchoring said biasing means at one end thereof to said tear panel, and an opposite end of said biasing means is in underlying reLationship to said handle.
 12. The end unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a spring.
 13. The end unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a generally U-shaped spring, and said one end of said spring is a bight portion thereof.
 14. The end unit as defined in claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a spring, said handle includes an opening, a web within said opening, and said one end of said spring is sandwiched between said web and said tear panel.
 15. The end unit as defined in claim 10 including rivet means joining said biasing means to said tear panel.
 16. The end unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said biasing means is a U-shaped spring, said anchoring means is a rivet joining a bight portion of said spring to said tear panel, and said opposite end of said biasing means are terminal ends of legs of said U-shaped spring.
 17. The end unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said handle includes an opening, a web of said handle being within said opening, said web having a terminal end, said anchoring means anchoring said biasing means one end to said web terminal end, and said biasing means opposite end being a pair of terminal ends of said biasing means disposed beneath said nose. 